Premium
Pyroclastic stratigraphy of the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat ‐ Implications for the present eruption
Author(s) -
Roobol M. J.,
Smith A. L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/98gl00643
Subject(s) - geology , pyroclastic rock , explosive eruption , clastic rock , volcano , radiocarbon dating , stratigraphy , geochemistry , volcanic ash , andesite , tephra , block (permutation group theory) , paleontology , volcanic rock , sedimentary rock , tectonics , geometry , mathematics
The stratigraphy of the Soufriere Hills volcano is dominated by dense‐andesite block and ash flow deposits. Forty‐one radiocarbon ages permit a reconstruction of the eruptive history over the past 31,000 years. A single stratigraphic member yielding radiocarbon ages of 22,000 to 20,000 years B.P. is composed of block and ash flow deposits with semi‐vesiculated clasts concentrated in the upper third of each deposit. The present eruption is also producing block and ash flow deposits with both dense and semi‐vesiculated clasts. It marks a return to a more explosive driven type of activity as occurred 22,000 to 20,000 years ago. Deposits of this member have a broad sheet‐like form and volumes in excess of any produced so far by the present eruption.